• No requirement to report tech literacy in 2011-12
The South Dakota Department of Education recently learned that the U.S. Department of Education will not require states to report 8th grade technology literacy for the 2011-12 school year. >>> LEARN MORE.

• 2012 Legislative Session begins this week
The South Dakota State Legislature will convene for the 2012 session beginning this week. The opening session will begin Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m., when Governor Dennis Daugaard will give his State of the State address before both houses. CLICK HERE to listen in to his address.

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Lake Area Technical Institute recognized for excellence

Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown has been recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the top two-year colleges in the country. The announcement was made last month during an educators’ conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and follows a rigorous, yearlong effort to assemble and review an unprecedented collection of data on community colleges and the critical elements of student success.

Lake Area received high marks for its degree completion rate, high employment and earnings for graduates, partnerships with area businesses and industry, philanthropy efforts, and student services.

“The results achieved at LATI are incredibly impressive,” said Aspen’s Josh Wyner. “With more than half of LATI’s students receiving Pell grants, the college still makes sure that more than three-quarters of its students get the skills they need to make a good living in twenty-first century job. In the process, LATI is strengthening its community and the regional economy. Colleges across the country have a lot to learn from LATI structure and work with employers.”

This is the first year the award has been given, and Lake Area Tech was selected as a finalist from an original list of more than 1,000 institutions nationwide.